I love Beatriz Williams books and Husbands and Lovers might be my favorite so far. The story is told in a dual timeline from 1952 to current 2022. Usually in a dual timeline I tend to pick one story I like the most but in this book I felt equally invested in both stories. Beatriz has main characters who really make their way into your heart and you can't help but cheer them on. Husbands and Lovers comes out on June 25th and I highly recommend you pick up a copy and read it poolside!
Mallory made a decision when she found out she was pregnant to raise her child alone. She was deeply in love with the father but his career was taking off and Mallory didn't want to throw any complications at him. It wasn't easy raising a son on her own and things got really complicated when she finds out her son needs a new kidney. Her sister pushes her to contact the father and see if he's a match, but Mallory knows all the feelings that never really went away will come flooding back. Hr love for her son out weighs her own feelings, but what if she can have both?
Mallory is also dealing with the death of her mother and a life she never knew existed. Her mother left her a bracelet that she never took off and Mallory and her sister want to know why this piece of jewelry was so special to their mother. Both sisters start doing research and uncover many secrets from the past, some that will help them understand their mother more but also help them discover who they are.

Thank you Beatriz Williams, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC read!

Husbands and Lovers was a novel outside of my normal “go-to” reads. I initially struggled to get into this story as I am typically not a fan of historical fiction, nonlinear timelines, or dual perspectives. About halfway through, I began to find myself intrigued by the two stories of Mallory and Hannah and how their lives both paralleled and juxtaposed from the other’s, despite being separated by a few generations.
Upon completion, I found that this book was thought provoking and provided interesting perspectives on the challenges of life including health, politics, love, and motherhood. While the genre and various literary features aren’t my favorite cup of tea, I am happy and glad to have had the opportunity to expand outside of my reading comfort zone and try something new!

I want to thank Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams.
“-you’re who you are and I’m who I am.”
“But it did happen. That night it happened to me.”
“I want a child.”
Most of the book alternates chapter between Hannah beginning in 1951 in Egypt and Mallory beginning in 2008 on Winthrop Island in New York. . And just when you really get involved with what is happening the chapter abruptly ends! Of course we know that somehow, somewhere, there is a connection.
A poisonous mushroom
A cobra bite
A beautiful bracelet with a secret
Her characters are well developed and you have to keep reading!
Husbands and lovers publishes June 25,2024.

Husbands & Lovers had an incredibly concept, but I found this difficult to read at times with the shifting timelines and frequent switching of narratives. I loved the aspect of DNA research being included in this, it added some level of professionalism or expertise to the narrative that was nicely executed. I found this story to be complex but I thought the setting was easy to imagine and the characters easy to relate to. Beatriz Williams is a very skilled writer and this was very well-written so I am looking forward to reading the rest of her work!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

I am a big fan of the author and will automatically read anything she publishes. I liked this one but was a little overwhelmed with the multiple timeliness and viewpoints. It made it a tad tougher to connect with the characters, but the storytelling was solid as usual.

In this captivating dual timeline novel, I found myself deeply immersed in a whirlwind of history and contemporary fiction. The exploration of DNA research added a fascinating layer of clarity, weaving together the past and present narratives seamlessly. While I was particularly invested in the more recent timeline, spanning from Cairo to Hungary to England and Ireland, I believe many readers would find themselves equally engrossed in unraveling the mysteries of the historical storyline.

Amid divorces, romantic entanglements, and challenging situations, the author skillfully navigates through complex emotions, making the journey both entertaining and thought-provoking. Each character's journey, whether in the past or present, is richly detailed and emotionally resonant, drawing readers deeper into their lives and struggles. The interplay between the two timelines adds depth and complexity to the narrative, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages to uncover the connections between past and present.

From the bustling streets of Cairo to the picturesque landscapes of Hungary and the charming villages of England and Ireland, the vividly depicted settings serve as more than just backgrounds—they become integral parts of the story, imbuing each scene with atmosphere and depth. As the characters navigate through love, loss, and self-discovery, readers are taken on a journey that spans generations, exploring themes of identity, family, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Overall, it's a riveting read that seamlessly blends the allure of the past with the complexities of the present, leaving readers eager for more. With its compelling characters, richly drawn settings, and intricate plotlines, this novel is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end.

Husbands & Lovers was beautifully written and complex. The different timelines flow seamlessly and I enjoyed every minute of it.

For fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Kate Quinn, Beatriz Williams’ newest book is perfect for romance and historical fiction readers alike. She has an amazing way of creating likable characters with complex relationships and feelings, and has an incredible ability to paint a setting — this book goes from Egypt, to Ireland, to New England. While I enjoyed Hannah’s storyline from 1951, I could’ve honestly read an entire book set on Winthrop Island with Mallory and Monk. This is a perfect summer read!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. Hannah and Lucien’s story from post World War II Egypt was fascinating as was Mallory and Monk’s 1980s story. At first they seemed like two completely different stories, but as the book continued, you could start to see the connection. They come together wonderfully at the end of the book. I also wondered throughout Mallory and Monk’s story why Mallory had left Monk. I never would have guessed the answer and was chillingly shocked. Overall, one of Beatriz Williams’ best books that will stay with me for quite awhile.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

☆☆☆☆/5

Thank you @randomhouse for letting me read this ARC and thank you @authorbeatriz for this beautiful story.

New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son, Sam, had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, searching for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams— one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairy tale cut short by a devastating betrayal.

Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat with a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah’s longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared in a game of intrigue between two men . . . and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

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This story was absolutely beautiful. Each chapter going back and forth between Mallory and her Grandmother Hannah, how their stories connect really flowed nicely. You also learn about the historical events that happened in Cairo, Egypt in the 1950s. I love Monk and I love Lucien 🤍

I highly recommend if you love dual povs, history, family stories, lost love, and rekindled love.

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What a tale! When a childhood accident occurs at summer camp, Mallory's life is thrown into chaos as her son is now in kidney failure after acute poisoning caused by a mushroom. Faced with the emergency, it leads her to confront a long lost love and her mother's adoption long ago from an Irish orphanage. There is a secondary plot set in Cairo, Egypt, which involves the wife of a diplomat during a rebellious period in that nation. In short, it is a page-turning read about strong female characters facing complex issues of sacrifices made for love and across multiple generations of a family.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow, I loved this book! It was so easy to imagine both worlds - Mallory's and Hannah's - and be drawn into their lives. It was a great blend of historical fiction and contemporary, and while I didn't always love Mallory (especially how stubborn she was about things), I was invested in the storyline. This was a book I kept thinking about during my day, which is a testament to a great novel. My biggest and only gripe with the book was that it felt like three POVs instead of two, since we had Mallory past and present, so the book felt a little stilted from spending more time with Hannah. I understand why we needed Mallory's then and now to fully comprehend the series of events, but it felt uneven in that regard. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading this! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

In a novel spanning 100 years, we meet Mallory and Hannah, both strong women trying to survive and thrive. Their stories take us from WWII Hungary to Egypt, Ireland and an island off New York.. lots of secrets and complicated relationships.

I really enjoyed this book and it ended up being completely different then what I was expecting based on the title. I don't usually like multiple timelines, but the way this story was woven together by these stories was so fascinating to me. I was definitely rooting for Mallory and Monk and was shocked when we learned what had happened to drive her away. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a very good, interesting and engaging read set in two different time periods. The first story line follows Mallory, an artist and single mom, whose son is ill and in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Her whole world is centered on caring for her son and the ever present need of him getting a transplant. The other story follows Hannah, a WWII survivor and an ex- countess, who is in Egypt during the 1950s. She is in a loveless marriage to a political diplomat during a tumultuous time in Egypt's history. Both women's stories involve secretive lovers and a mysterious family heirloom that creates a bond between 21st century New England and postwar Egypt. This book was interesting, full of romance and intrigue and kept me wondering how it would end. I look forward to the author's next book!

Wow this story took me a while to get into but once I got past 30% mark I was hooked. The 2 story lines coming together was done wonderfully. Absolutely loved Pinks and Paige but Monk was everything! Having someone who went through kidney transplant myself it was great to see this representation

Thank you, Net Galley and Random House, for the arc of Husbands and Lovers — all the intrigue of Beatriz Williams’ past novels and such love woven throughout. A novel written with care given to our pasts.

Thank you to @netgalley and @RandomHouseBallatine for this ARC. A split timeline between Cairo 1950 and Winthrop Island 2022. Cairo - Hannah is married to a British diplomat working in Cairo. They met in a refugee camp after she fled Hungary during the war. He was her way out to a stable life. Winthrop Island - Mallory was a single mom to a 10 year old son. After a tragic accident, Sam needs a new kidney and knows the man she walked away from 10 years ago very well may save her son's life. What sacrifices was she willing to make? I love the way the two stories relate. Really good book! #HusbandsandLovers #BeatrizWilliams #RandomHouseBallatine #June2024

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Special thanks to Beatriz Williams, Net Galley, and Random House Books for this arc of Husbands and Lovers, out this June 2024! I was so excited to grab this book, as I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this author.

As a mom, the beginning instantly shook me. Even stranger, is that my son’s birthday is the same as the character’s son, Sammy, in the book, which shook me again. Mallory gets a call that rocks her world, and so begins her part of the story. A single mom raising a 13 year old, with a history and secrets that no one knows but her.

Hannah is our second main character, and her story takes us back to the 1950’s in Egypt. This story discusses how Hannah became Hannah… her current marriage, affairs, love and war, and how every decision she made catapulted her future life.

I am usually ALL for dual plot lines, even flashbacks. I truly do love the dual plot lines and the drama and questions it brings to my mind. But for some reason, this book made me confused at times, even though I’m not even reading another book. Maybe because there is a lot going on… affairs, love, war, friendships, children, adoption, family discoveries, etc… so there’s a lot of things to keep track of, on top of going back and forth with the two story lines. I was anxious to see how they would line up, and was rooting for all the strong ladies of these stories.

A few things that stood out to me was this author’s style of writing. I loved it and devoured her words. This was my first novel by her, and I am definitely intrigued in her other works now. I like how she developed the characters as the novel went on. I felt like I was learning more and more about each person as the chapters went on. I can also tell that she spent a lot of time researching this heavy, real topics, even though it’s historical fiction. ( Read the author’s note~ she describes her research, how she thought of this concept, and the real historical events that pushed her to write this book. )

Two things that held me back…. The ending and the organization of the timelines. I wish the chapters were more linear and didn’t go back and forth as much inside each chapter, because it would be a 5 star read. And the ending… I kept flipping back and forth between pages because I felt like I was missing pages. Is there a second novel in the works?! Because …. There really needs to be after how it ended!

I always enjoy Beatriz Williams' books - they are light and fun but contain enough historical research to keep things interesting. Husbands & Lovers is no different. I would have preferred a little more of the Egypt story but overall a super quick read and when this comes out in June, will be a perfect vacation book.